Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-17
MURDER WILL OUT.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Boston
Cattle Dealer Finally Cleared I'm

/ cattle Dealer Finally Cleared Up.
Some weeks ago the body of man
badly decomposed was found lying under
a tree on the summit of Talcott noun
tain, near Tarifville, Conn, writes a
Templeton, Mass, correspondent of the
st. Louis Globe Democrat. A rope dan
gled from overhead, and all the indica-
tlons pointed to the case as that Of suicide.
The fact was widely advertised, and some
days ago the remains were identified as
those of Cyrus Chaplin, well-to-do cattle
dealer of Boston, who disappeared from
the place year ago last Christmas. Evil
dence has now come to light which leads
to believe that Chaplin was murdered by
Charles W. Cobleigh, of this place in the
latter's barn. his body kept till spring, and
| then conveyed to Talcott mountain in
team and placed where found The evil
| dence which points to the conclusion is
as follows:
No reason is known why Chaplin should
commit suicide. He was we'll known In
1ariffville and Bloomfield, Conn, yet no
one saw him in that vicinity at the time
when he was supposed to have committed
the deed. Chaplin was last seen crossing
Templeton common Dec. 80, 1885, on his
way to call on Charles w. Cobleigh, to
collect the price of a heifcr. Later Cob
leigh and his wife separated, and Mrs.
Cobleigh went to the mill where her hus-
band was employed, and said in the pres
ence of witnesses:
81 want you to give me money for me
and my children; you have got it and
you have got to give me some. And if
you don't, [ will tell what / know about
you that Will put you where you can't get
away"
On the 18th of last June Cobleigh went
to the house of Frank Hill, where his wife
was living, and killed her instantly with
shot from revolver. She did not breathe
a word after that shot was fred No
good motive could then be deduced for
the crime.
Cobleigh was arrested and pronounced
insane, and is now in the asylum at Wor
cester.
About that time Frank Hill told the de-
tectlves that few days before her death
Mrs. Cobleigh asserted in his presence
that on the day following Christmas,
1885, she saw Cyrus Chaplin come up the
road alone, turn into the yard, meet her
husband, and after the men had talked
few minutes saw them go into the barn
and noted that the door was closed be-
hind them. This was about O'Clock in
the afternoon, and neither party was
again seen by her until about Z o'clock in
the evening, when her husband came out
alone much excited, with blood on his
hands, boots, and overalls. He went to
the sink, washed his hands, failed to eat
his supper, and went to bed about 8
o'clock. He tossed and rolled until about
O'Clock In the morning, when he got up,
went out to the barn and remained until
daylight.
Chaplin was known to have $1,000 on
his person. and soon after his disappear
ance COblelgh's son, q worthless chap,
purchased $1,000 worth of property, and
paid for it cash down.
The next spring Cobleigh took team,
placed large trunk in it, and started out
ostensibiy to peddle essences. No one
who bought Of him, but certain family
under the shadow of Talcott mountain,
in Connecticut, is known to have acquired
considerable money about that time.
Chapin's body was inferred here to-day.
CObleigh has been interviewed in the
asylum, and forgetting former declara-
ton, he admitted that he was well ac-
quinted with Chaplin, but would not talk
aboRt that individuals disappearance
other than to emphatically say, when he
was informed that his wife had told that
he murdered Chaplin, thatit was id
lie.''
During the interview Cobleigh appear
ed very nervous and excited, and was
manifestly DESTROYS of changing the sub
ject.